An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« Obama’s Speech On Change From Des Moines

Bush Hits Record 23 Percent Approval Rating Low As Americans Mood Sours: Zogby Poll »

Another Myth About Obama Is Shattered

Posted by SHAUN MULLEN, TMV Columnist in At TMV.
May 21st, 2008 | Comments

IF APPALACHIA WAS A COUNTRY, HILLARY CLINTON COULD BE PRESIDENT — RON REAGAN

Exit polls from Oregon punch a big hole in the theory that Barack Obama’s problem with working class whites is generic.

As the former president’s son alludes to in his quip on MSNBC last night, Obama’s real problem appears to be with Appalachian whites as is reflected in how Hillary Clinton creamed him in Kentucky and West Virginia.

But Oregon exit polls show that Obama beat Clinton by sizable margins among all ages of white voters except those 60 and older. And he beat Clinton among voters with no college degree, as well.

Incidentally, like Kentucky and West Virginia, Oregon is an overwhelmingly white state.

More here.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

Mike_P

This whole "blue collar" meme is ridiculous. The best take I've seen on it was by a commenter on another blog echoing Ron Reagan's sentiments when he said "What this democratic primary season has taught me: Obama will never be President of Eastern Kentucky and Hillary will never be president of the United States."

PWT

Let's see, Obama, Chicago's own native son, lost among those with a High School diploma but no college by 46 - 53 percent. Obama, Chicago's own native son, lost 45 - 54% among those that make below $30,000 per year. I would categorize that group as "blue collar". So, you can make up whatever fantasy you want about Chicago's own native son, but he ain't getting the keys to the car this time.

Thank you to Big Tent Democrat over at Talk Left whose argument I've completely plagiarized.

ChrisWWW

PWT,
IIRC, Rachel Maddow, on MSNBC last night, said that since Kennedy, pretty much every Dem. Presidential candidate has lost "blue collar" whites.

Mike_P

PWT, when you have to turn to BTD in an attempt to find a winning argument, you have well and truly grasped the rotten apple at the bottom of the cider barrel.

It might also be instructive to read a post by John Cole, a West Virginian.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=10424

superdestroyer

The Republicans do horrile with the black and Hispanic vote and everyone blames the Repubicans. Senator Obama does lousy with the white blue collar vote and everyone blames the white blue collar voters.

This is a perfect demonstration of how the media treats Senator Obama differently.

DLS

Urban liberals versus rural conservatives -- why make a big deal of the obvious, which hints at obscession or pathology of some kind?

DLS

"he ain't getting the keys to the car this time"

I suspect he is. I have more dim prospects for McCain (the next Dole, the GOP's "sacrificial lamb" this year, who has "progressed" almost solely by the failures of the other competitors rather than positive accomplishments by him) than Superdestroyer has for the Republican Party in toto in the years to come.

* * *

"[...] This is a perfect demonstration of how the media treats Senator Obama differently."

It's broadter than that. This is the obvious (and at times, as we see here, hypocritical) manner in which the Left and activists in the Dem Party treat their voters, that they take for granted and expect unbroken loyalty and fealty from. The activists are largely with the kiddies in the Obama camp this year. Saint Hillary is now the devil to the more demented in this country, hardly distinguishable from Bush (the favorite demon of the demented since 2000). The same treatment is given to the apostatic, heretical voters straying from the Obama straightaway to the stars this year.

blog comments powered by Disqus